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DNR Announces Spring Trout Stocking Schedule

Annapolis, Md. (February 3, 2011) — This month, the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin stocking the first of
approximately 327,000 rainbow and brown trout into freshwaters across the State
for trout fishing enthusiasts.

“Our pre-season stocking usually starts in early February but too much ice and
snow can delay things as we saw last year,” says DNR’s Assistant Fisheries
Director Don Cosden. “So, watch our website or call 1-800-688-3467 for updates.
I’m already getting excited about the upcoming season and the chance to catch
some trout as large as seven or eight pounds.”

The stocking schedule is now online at
www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/stocking and is also available at DNR
Regional Service Centers and license vendors. DNR encourages anglers to visit
the maps of stocked and special managed streams for directions and more
information on trout fishing locations. Pre-season stocking usually starts in
the eastern part of the State followed by the western region as the weather
warms up.

In order to protect our fish populations and keep their habitat healthy, DNR
reminds anglers to clean and dry their gear between streams and outings. Field
and laboratory research has confirmed that the felt used for waders is an ideal
medium for collecting and transporting microscopic organisms. The discovery of
the invasive algae didymo on the lower Savage River shows how easily unwanted
organisms can be moved between watersheds and demonstrates that anglers must be
more diligent than ever. A good scrubbing with dish soap or a 5 percent salt
solution is an easy way to prevent the spread of invaders such as didymo and
whirling disease. Convenient wader wash stations are available at several key
wild trout areas including the Gunpowder River, Savage River, the North Branch
of the Potomac (Barnum area), and Big Hunting Creek.

Anglers need to be aware that a proposed Maryland regulation to prohibit felt
soles in all waters is scheduled to become effective in March 2011. DNR
welcomes public comment on the proposal through February 28 via email to
fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us or by mail to: Maryland Department of
Natural Resources Fisheries Service, ATTN: Felt-Soled Wader Ban Regulation, 580
Taylor Ave., B-2, Annapolis, MD 21401.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state
agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to
citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands
and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and
wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A
national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic
and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead
agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number
one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov